Thursday 8 March 2012

Coche


Today's WOTD is: "coche" = car

In Spanish, the noun "coche"* is a masculine noun of Hungarian origin, the main meaning of which is car.
*Please note that in many parts of Latin America the nouns "carro"* and "auto"* (short for "automóvil")  are much commonly used to refer to a motor car. In contrast, in Spain the noun "carro", although its meaning in this context is fully understood, is used almost exclusively to refer a cart pulled by oxen, horses, or other animals.

Some commonly used expressions containing the words "coche", "carro", or "automóvil" are:
  • Aguantar carrors y carretas (to put up with a lot)
  • Automóvil deportivo (sports car).
  • Automóvil de sitio (taxi rank car/ taxi -some parts of Latin America).
  • (Automóvil de) turismo (ordinary motorcar).
  • Un carro de algo (a cartful/ a load of something).
  • Un carro de problemas (a whole load of problems)
  • Carro de asalto (military armoured vehicle/ tank).
  • Carro de combate (military armoured vehicle/ tank).
  • Carro de la compra (shopping trolley).
  • Carrito de la compra (shopping trolley).
  • Carro dormitorio (sleeper -some parts of Latin America).
  • Carro fúnebre (hearse - some parts of Latin America).
  • Carro comedor (dining car -some parts of Latin America).
  • Carro público (shared taxi service -Latin America).
  • Coche cama (sleeper).
  • Coche celular (prison van).
  • Coche de línea (public coach).
  • Coche de niño (pram/ baby carriage).
  • Coche de plaza ( taxi rank car/ taxi).
  • Coche de punto (taxi rank car/ taxi).
  • Coche escoba (a wagon collecting retiring runners in certain races).
  • Coche fúnebre (hearse).
  • (Coche) utilitario (small/ basic motorcar).
  • Coches de choque (dodgems).
  • En el coche de San Fernando (walking/ on foot).
  • ¡Para el carro! (hold on!/ hold your horses!).
  • Subirse al carro de algo (to jump on the bandwagon of something).
  • Tirar del carro (to carry the lion share of some load).
  • Untar el carro (to give backhanders).

Examples of the use of the words "coche", "carro" or "automóvil" are:
  • Tuvimos que aguantar carros y carretas (we had to put up with a lot).
  • Tu tenías un un automóvil deportivo, ¿verdad? (you used to have a sports car, didn't you?).
  • Por aquí no hay automóviles de sitio (around here there aren't any taxi rank cars).
  • Por aquí no hay coches de plaza (around here there aren't any taxi rank cars).
  • Por aquí no hay coches de punto (around here there aren't any taxi rank cars). 
  • Veamos como van las ventas de automóviles de turismo (lets have a look at ordinary motorcar sales).
  • Necesito un carro de leña (I need a cartful/ a cord of wood).
  • Tengo un carro de problemas (I have a whole load of problems)
  • El ejército salió a la calle con carros de asalto (the army took to the streets in armoured vehicles/ tanks).
  • El ejército salió a la calle con carros de combate (the army took to the streets in armoured vehicles/ tanks).
  • Este carro de la compra anda mal de una rueda (this shopping trolley has a wonky wheel).
  • Este carrito de la compra anda mal de una rueda (this shopping trolley has a wonky wheel).
  • Este tren no lleva carro dormitorio (this train doesn't have a sleeper).
  • Este tren no lleva coche cama (this train doesn't have a sleeper).
  • Por ahí va un carro fúnebre (that is a hearse).
  • Por ahí va un coche fúnebre (that is a hearse).
  • El carro comedor está lleno (the dining car is full).
  • Hoy no hay servicio de carro público (today the share taxi service is not running).
  • Pedro conduce un coche celular (Pedro drives a prison van).
  • De Monforte a Lalín fuimos en coche de línea (we travelled from Monforte to Lalín by bus).
  • A tu hijo, el coche de niño se le ha quedado pequeño (your son is to big for the pram/ baby carriage).
  • A mi con un utilitario me llega (a small/ basic motorcar is enough for me).
  • ¿Vamos a los cohes de choque? (shal we go on the dodgems?).
  • He venido en el coche de San Fernando (I have come on foot).
  • ¡Para el carro! no estoy de acuerdo con lo que dices (hold your horses! I don't agree with what you are saying!).
  • te subes al carro de la tecnología (you jump on the technology bandwagon).
  • En este caso, soy yo quien acaba tirando del carro (in this case, it is I who ends up bearing the load).
  • Aquí, si no untas el carro, no se consigue nada (here, unless you give backhanders you get nowhere).

Love-Spanish.com loves the word "coche" in the YouTube clip: Canción Infantil: El Cocherito

For more on the word "coche", visit: Wordreference.com/es/en/ Coche

*NB 'Click' on the speaker icon next to the word “coche” in the link to hear the word pronounced.

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